Week 3 - Introduction to Flowcharts

 CLASS OBJECTIVE

Recognize the use of symbols to represent a process when working with flowcharts, and identify the first three basic symbols: start/end, arrow, and process.

Common Symbols

A symbol is usually a drawing with a meaning that many can easily understand. For example, can you tell the meaning of every symbol on the next image?

Probably most of you were able to identify the meaning of all the symbols above since they each have one meaning or represent a single action or tool. But what happens when you want to represent a set of steps or a process? Well, there is a graphic resource that allows us to represent a process using mainly symbols, and it is called a flowchart.

HOMEWORK INFORMATION RECOVERY

Let's all discuss about your homework results, in plenary:

• What is a flowchart?
• What are the different symbols in a flowchart and their meaning?
• What are flowcharts commonly used for?
• Draw an example of a flowchart and explain it.

Helpful references

What is a programming flowchart?

A programming flowchart is a visualization tool programmers use when creating new applications to understand a process, workflow or algorithm. It typically uses geometric shapes to represent steps and arrows to communicate the flow of data.

Indeed Editorial Team(September 28, 2023),What Is a Programming Flowchart?,https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development

Flowcharts

A flowchart is a diagram that represents an algorithm. It is read from top to bottom and uses shapes and arrows to show what happens in a program. You and your team can use flowcharts to help plan out how to create your code and organize your code.

2024 Technovation, Flowcharts, https://technovationchallenge.org/

FIRST STEPS INTO FLOWCHARTS: ARROW, START/END AND PROCESS SYMBOLS

Algorithm

Most of you may have found, while doing your homework, that a flowchart is defined as "a diagram that represents an algorithm" and that is certainly correct. But what exactly is an algorithm?

An algorithm is simply a set of step-by-step instructions to complete a process (solve a problem or perform a specific task). The most important rule when creating an algorithm is that it must have a beginning and an end—this is known as finiteness.

So, whether you're creating a guide to prepare coffee or describing the steps to calculate the speed a rocketship needs to escape Earth, the algorithm must always come to an end at some point.

Start/End symbol:

When working with flowcharts, we use a specific symbol to represent the start and end of the process. This symbol is called "Terminator" and it is represented by an oval. 

• This oval is placed at the beginning (labeled "Start") and at the end (labeled "End") of the flowchart.
• Between these two ovals, we will insert the other symbols that represent the steps of our process.

Arrow symbol:

The Arrow symbol is used to indicate the flow (direction) that the flowchart is following. Although flowcharts are typically read from top to bottom, there are times when different paths are created, so it is important to use arrows from the beginning.

Process symbol:

The Process symbol  represents a step in the process. It is shown as a rectangle, and inside it, we write the instruction to be performed. We must ensure that the instruction is clear and precise to avoid any confusion (ambiguity).

You can use as many process symbols as you need, and inside each process symbol, there should be only one instruction. 

*Remember all the symbols must be placed between the start and end ovals.

Let's take a look at the next example:

To see the image in full size right clic on it an then select the option "open image in a new tab".

There you can zoom in the image to read the text.

CLASS ACTIVITY

For today’s activity, you’re going to create two different flowcharts in your notebook to represent two things you do when taking the Technology III class.

First flowchart:

• Create a flowchart using only the start/end and process symbols to represent the steps a student must follow to enter classroom ( the online educational platform) once the student is sitting at the workstation. Take into consideration that the computer is turned off when the student arrives at the workplace

Second flowchart:

• Create a flowchart using only the start/end and process symbols to represent the steps a student must follow to go from your workplace to the nearest bathroom in the school. Consider that the classroom door is open and the student has the teacher's permission to go to the bathroom.

Once you finish the two flowcharts, give them to the teacher for review. If the flowcharts are complete, the teacher will sign your activity. If not, the teacher will ask you to complete or correct them.

CLASS NOTES

Write down in your notebook the title of the class, the objective and follow the instructions.

Include in your notes the next questions and answer:

• What is this flowhcart describing?
• Do you think the flowchart is missing any steps? If so, write the step or steps that the flowchart is missing.